Developmental characteristics of coordination during rhythmic movements based on qualitative assessments in preschool children

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K02593
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09030:Childhood and nursery/pre-school education-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: SASAKI Reiko 慶應義塾大学, 体育研究所(日吉), 教授 (80178673)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 動作発達 / 幼児 / 調整力 / リズミカルな運動 / 動きの質的評価 / ホッピング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to examine the developmental characteristics of young children by qualitatively observing and evaluating their rhythmic movements using hopping as a movement task. With age, the hopping movement pattern transformed to a movement pattern in which postural stability at landing was secured, followed by an effective contribution of each upper- and lower-limb movement to forward propulsion. Furthermore, a temporal analysis of the hopping cycle during movement suggested developmental changes in the neuromuscular functions involved in the rhythmic movement. These findings indicate that early childhood (age 4-6 years) involves a developmental process during which the body grows and moves toward mature rhythmic movement patterns.

Free Research Field

発育発達学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

基本的な動作の獲得、習熟時期である幼児期の子どもの動作習得状況を把握することは重要である。特に、幼少期に身につけたい基本的動作であるリズミカルな動作は、走跳投などのように時間や距離などで定量化することが難しく、適切な観察によって動きを質的に評価することが必要である。これらの評価に基づいて、子どもの動きの現状や発達的特性をとらえることは、保育、教育現場における適切な支援や指導法への活用につながる。